Brassiere having cups made from elastic material



Sept. 15, 1953 T. B. SCHAUMER BRASSIERE HAVING CUPS MADE FROM ELASTIC MATERIAL Filed May 15, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. B. SCHAUMER, BY

firraewsy.

Sept. 15, 1953 r. B. SCHAUMER 2,651,779

BRASSIERE HAVING CUPS MADE FROM ELASTIC MATERIAL Filed May 16, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVHVTOR.

735 B. SCHAz/MER,

flrroszuex Sept. 15, 1953 'r. B. SCHAUMER BRASSIERE HAVING CUPS MADE FROM ELAS TIC MATERIAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 16, 1949 mmvrm B SCHfll/MER; BY firroe/vev.

Sept. 15, 1953 T. B. SCHAUMER 2,651,779

BRASSIERE HAVING CUPS MADE FROM ELASTIC MATERIAL Filed May 16, 1949 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 "ilimmu' INVEN TOR. $950 3 SCH/JUMEQ,

BY%%IU enhancement of womens figures. ten'ded to be'accomplishe'd by shaping or molding I the breasts through the instrumentality of the they support and liftthe breasts. the'desira'cle contour may be obtained.

Patented Sept. 15, 1953 QFF I'CLE "BRASSIEREHAVING CUPSMADE FROM ELASTIC MATERIAL .Theo'B. Schaumer, Losr-Angeles, fialif.

Application May 16, 19'49,'SerialiN 0. 93,521

This invention relates to brassires. 'Brassires are now universally used for i'the This is inbreast cups thelt are shaped insuch manner that In this way,

While2in the past it has beenpossiblepin many ca'ses,:to obtain these results by appropriate design of the breast :cup and .of its reinforcement, there are nevertheless inherent diffioulties.

.For example, there are very rmanyidifferent types of breasts, seach :of which, :for optimum benefits,

would require an individual brassiere design and size.

zObviously, 1 all of the required. sizes and .shapes cannot :be :manufactured :and "stocked. lManufacturers :attempt to supply individual needs by -.car.rying a limitedselectionof capsizes. 1

Accordingly, :it :is to berexpected ithat in very many cases-thefitroi the brassiereris armerecompromise. 10f acourse, customer-made .brass-ires:;can

overcome this difficulty, but they are iar tooexspensive to'meet the demand.

.A :modern sbrassi'ereiis iexpectedznot only ito ,"iit

the breasts zof the individual, hutalso "to support endrmold the :breastszto form desirable contours.

iFzillen,xiiabby breasts-ere lbhllSICilllSfidltOfQsSSllHlE a -rm outlineywith :steep rise fromtheabasezof thexbreasttothe' apexaregion.

ithis one of the ;objects of this :invention to make it possible to .mold the :breasts \in this fashion fhyi-aid i of: a brassi'ere, iand tmfitzmdividual requirements hy...selection ifrom irailimited variety rofsizes.

Thus, by practicing this invention, asubstantiallyuperfect fitis readily attainedzwithout dis- :comfort-to the wearer.

.lt'iis anotherobjectqoizthis invent-ionito provide :a ibrassiere :having "cups that :provide :the :re- ;quired :molding :iiof :the 1 breasts end-yet i Which-:are ssurhciently :yieldable to obviate idlSCDlTlfOI't .to the wearer.

.This iinvention possesses many :other advantages, and :has ntheraobj ects which mayabezmade more clearly apparent from "a consideration of several forms in which itIIlflYrbB embodied. Such forms .are shown in .the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. These forms-will'now .be deseribedindetail, illustrating the :general principles of the invention;

hutit'is toibennderstood thatsuoh detailed de- 15615113 51611 is not to 'be takeniima limiting sense, --SiX1C8:i}he- ,SJpOf"th6 invention is best-defined by the appended claims.

:be explained :hereinafter. -,edgescof.-the,cups arejoined to a, body-encircling .member including a central fabric element 3 2 Re'ferring'to'the drawings "Figure 1 is=a="pictorial view of a brassire incorporating the invention and shown as being 'worn;

:l 'igfi2 is a front e'levation of the brassiere shown in Fig. 1, the body-encircling portion of the brassire. being'extended;

Fig.s32is asectional View, takenalonga plane oorrespondingto line'.3- -3:of Fig.2;

Fig.4 is adiagrammatic view of one of the segments of ithe :cup, illustrating the direction in which resilient stretching can :be eflected;

:fiiig..5 list-an insideview of .a portionof 'the'brassiere illustrated inathe previous figures;

:Figlfi isaaviemsimilarto.:Fig. 2,;of 'a modified "iormcoiithe:brassire;

,Fig. 1 I'lSiaJIfI-OIIt view .of :the cup portionof a further modifiedform ofthe 'brassiere;

iFlg..-l8l is anaenl-arged' view illustrating the fagot- .ingrbetween the cup sections shown'in Fig. '7

Fig. js anrinside-view of ;the cupportionof a modified Aform .of zthe brassiere incorporating the I invention;

Figxlfiis azsection-al View, taken alonga plane -,corr.esponding"to line :I 0! 0. of Fig. 9;

3 Fig. .:1l:,is a iragmentary view, similar to Fig. 2,

:and showing a modified form :of construction;

.Figs. 12,13, :14, and 16am front views of the soup gportions, :showing additional modifications;

'Fig.:15 isa. sectional view,'taken along a plane corresponding-to jline IE-4510i Fig. 14 .and

.17;is alplan view ofthe-cup sections utilized inith'e form: illustrated in-Fig. l6.

:Ihthe ,formpf the brassiere shown in Figs. 1 to .5, there are=two cups l and Zthat: are intended to .overlie :and support the breasts of the wearer.

The manner in which these cups are formedwill The outer bases or which"extends.upwardlybetween thetwo cups l .andQZ, .and which has extensions it and. 5 project- .form .the body-en- Thus, the

eyelets .9; ,and the. side members is provided with ,hooks 1B -adapte'clto engageinto any pairof'the .eyelets..,9.

LBothofthe cups VI .and .21 are madesubstantially identically, and therefore it is necessary to describe but one of them. Thus, the cup 'I'is shown 3 in this instance as provided with four sections, or quadrants, II, I2, I3 and I4. Each of these sections is made of substantially triangular form, and of one-way stretch material. The direction of the stretch is along a line from the base of the cup to the top thereof, as indicated by the arrows 44 in Figs. 2 and 4. Furthermore, these sections are held together by a seam formed by zig-zag stitching I (shown most clearly in Fig. 5) so that this stitching does not interfere With the stretch of the sections.

In addition, in order to provide a reinforcement for the cups I and 2, lines of stitching are provided, said stitching being formed by inelastic thread, and running transversely to the direction of the stretch. In the form shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the stitching is made in the form of a continuous spiral line I6, beginning at or near the top or apex of the cup and proceeding in ever widening circles to the base of the cup. This stitching can be applied after the section II, I2, I3 and I4 are joined together, and may be conveniently formed as a single continuous line. The spacing between the turns of the spiral may be of the order of one-fourth of an inch, but the specific number of turns is relatively unimportant.

Conventional adjustable shoulder straps I! may be provided, joined to the top edges of the cups, as well as to the sides 6 and l.

The central member 3 has a lower edge I8 that is arched, and an elastic webbing I9 extends across the bottom of the arch. This elastic Webbing assists in holding the brassiere resiliently against the body of the user.

Preferably, the members 3, I3 and I are also made of elastic material. Thus, the central portion 3 may be formed of one-way elastic material in which the stretch is permitted in a vertical direction. The side members 6 and I may also be formed of similar material in which the stretch a is Permitted in the horizontal direction.

The outer edge or base or" each of the cups I and 2 is joined, as shown most clearly by Fig. 5, to the side members 6 and I by the rows of stitches 29. Narrow elastic webbing 2| extends completely across the lower inside edge of the garment. This webbing may be joined by zigzag stitching 22 to the side members. A wider elastic webbing 23 is disposed, as indicated in Fig. 6, between the webbing 2I and the corresponding side member 6 or 'I. The stitching 24 of zig-zag form attaches the upper edge of this strip 23 to the corresponding side section 6 or 1. Similarly, elastic webbing 25 extends completely over the top inner edge of the brassiere, and is joined to the other parts of the brassiere by the zig-zag stitching 26.

The use of stitching such as the stitching I6, on a cup made or" sections that are capable of being extended, has important advantages. While the cup can obviously be deepened, due to the direction of the stretch, the stitching I6 prevents lateral or diametric expansion in a direction transverse to the direction of stretch. Due to the elasticity the cups I and 2 fit quite snugly over the breasts of the user without discomfort. The breast is molded and supported to produce the desired elevated or uplifted position. The cup bein elastic in depth, there is an assurance that the cups will closely and snugly overlie the breasts, and that the cups will adequately and properly support the breasts. Since the cups readily accommodate themselves to a particular individuals breasts, the problem of exact fitting 1 is avoided.

The provision of elastic material for the side members 6 and I and the central member 3 assures freedom of movement of the wearer without discomfort. The elastic webbin I9 under the arch I8 serves to maintain the cups closely against the body of the wearer. Furthermore, the sections II, I2, I3 and I4 may be so formed as to produce quite a steep rise, and the elasticity, together with the inelastic spiral stitching I6, assures against drooping of the breasts.

In the form shown in Fig. 6, the elastic webbing I9 has been omitted, but in other respects this brassiere is substantially the same as that disclosed in Figs. 1 to 5. It includes the continuous line of stitching I6 and the zig-zag seam l5 for the cups I and 2. The cup sections are likewise made from elastic material capable of increasing the depth of the cup.

Instead of the zig-zag stitching between the cup sections, other forms of yielding stitching might be used. For example, in Figs. 7 and 8, fagoting 21 may be used to join the cup sections 28, 29, 30 and 3I. This fagoting is provided after the individual cup sections are formed with the stitching 32 running transversely to the direction of stretch of the cup section.

Although the cups I and 2 are quite comfortable without the use of a lining, such a lining may be provided if desired. For example, in Figs. 9 and 10, a lining 33 of thin conformable material is provided, such as lace or net. This lining is inserted inside of the cups, and is appropriately stitched thereto.

In the forms thus far described, the cup sections are joined together either by fagoting or by a zig-zag stitching. Other forms of yielding stitching can be utilized in place of the zig-zag stitching. Thus, in Fig. 11, the cup sections II. IE, IS and E4 of the breast cup I are joined together by elastic threads to form the elastic stitching 34. This stitching thus permits variation in the depth of the cups, and operates substantially in the same manner as the zig-zag seam I5 shown in Fig. 5.

In the forms thus far described, the material forming the cup section is described as one having one-way stretch, to permit stretching in a direction transverse to the direction of the inelastic stitching around the cup. However, it is not necessary to restrict the stretch to that direction alone. In Fig. 13 the cup 35 is shown as having sections 36 to 39 which may be made of two-way stretch material. Since in this form the line of inelastic stitching 40 restricts the stretch in the direction of these stitches, substantially the same effect is secured as in the form shown in Figs. 1 to 5.

The spiral line of stitching I6 is advantageous because it may be formed in a continuous operation. However, it is not essential that the breast cups be reinforced by such a spiral line. Other lines of stitching generally transverse to the direction of stretch may be used. In Fig. 12, the lines of stitching 4| are circular or annular, yet the same functions are performed as in the forms hereinabove described. In all of the forms variations in the diameter of the cup are restricted by the aid of the inelastic lines of stitching I6 or M, while the depth of the cup is varied to fit the individual.

In the form shown in Figs. 14 and 15, the body-encircling portion 42 may be constructed in a manner similar to that disclosed in connection with Fig. 1. The breast cups are each formed in four sections, 43, 44, 45, and 46. These cup sections are made from one-way stretch fabric, the lines of stretch being generally from the base of the cup toward the top of the cup. However, the top of the cup is formed by non-elastic, loosely woven material 41, such as net or lace. Accordingly, the sections 43. 44, 45, and 46, in conjunction, form an annular arrangement. The net or lace material covers the nipple region of the breast; and, due to the character of its weave, it does not cause discomfort to the wearer. This is especially useful in connection with certain types of breasts.

The seams or lines of stitching 48, joining the cup sections, may be of zig-zag configuration to permit stretching, as before. A circular seam, or line of stitching 49, firmly joins the top portion 41 to each of the cup sections.

In the form shown in Figs. 16 and 17, the cup sections 50, 52, and 53 are made from oneway stretch material, joined together by zig-zag stitching 59 and, preferably, provided with a continuous spiral line of stitching 55. In this instance, the direction of the stretch may be definitely chosen for each section to produce the desired effects. This is shown by the arrows 56, 5'1, 56, and 59 in Fig. 17. The upper sections 59 and 55 have a stretch generally in a direction from the base of the cup toward the top of the cup. The arrow 59 in Fig. 17 indicates that the direction of the stretching is transverse, or substantially perpendicular, to the line of stitching 60 between the two lower sections. Accordingly, no stretch can occur from the base to the top of the cup in this lower section The other lower section 52 has a direction of stretch 56 which is parallel to the line of stitching 63.

By this means a firmer support is provided for the lower portion of the breast. Nevertheless, the direction of stretch is such that the cup can be worn without discomfort, and the breast is molded to the desired configuration. Since one cup section 53 is elastic in a direction corresponding to arrow 59, the base of the cup can expand somewhat to allow comfortable accommodation to the breast.

The inventor claims:

1. In a brassiere: a body encircling portion; and breast cups attached thereto; each breast cup being made from a plurality of sections joined together, each of said sections being made from material having threads that are elastic in the direction from the base of the cup to the apex of the cup so that the cup is substantially uniformly resilient around the entire cup in a direction from the base of the cup to the apex of the cup the joining between sections being such as to permit stretching of the cup sections along said joining; each cup section being furthermore provided with a plurality of spaced rows of stitching transverse to the said direction.

2. In a brassiere: a body encircling portion; and breast cups attached thereto; each breast cup being made from a plurality of sections joined together, each of said sections being made from material having threads that are elastic in the direction from the base of the cup to the apex of the cup so that the cup is substantially uniformly resilient around the entire cup in a direction from the base of the cup to the apex of the cup, the joining between sections being such as to permit stretching of the cup sections along said joining; each cup section being furthermore provided with a plurality of spaced rows of stitching transverse to the said direction; and the apex portion of the cup being formed of loosely fabricated non-elastic material, there being a line of stitching joining said top portion with the cup sections.

3. In a brassire: a body encircling portion; and breast cups attached thereto; each breast cup being made from a plurality of sections joined together, each of said sections being made from material having threads that are elastic in the direction from the base of the cup to the apex of the cup so that the cup is substantially uniformly resilient around the entire cup in a direction from the base of the cup to the apex of the cup, the joining between sections being such as to permit stretching of the cup sections along said joining; each cup being furthermore provided with a spiral line of stitching centering at the apex of the cup and terminating at the base of the cup.

THEO B. SCHAUMER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,841,960 Kunstadter Jan. 19, 1932 1,909,273 Henessy May 16, 1933 1,997,995 Bowen Apr. 16, 1935 2,021,906 Whitaker Nov. 26, 1935 2,023,612 Park et al Dec. 10, 1935 2,152,910 Childs Apr. 4, 1939 2,180,111 Kapinas Nov. 14, 1939 2,411,462 Plehn Nov. 19, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 712,202 France July 13, 1931 799,636 France Apr. 11, 1936 

